ABC is obviously pretty happy with many of their shows. Even though we're not quite halfway through the current season, the network has announced that it will pick up six of its shows for the 2011-2012 television season. Which shows have earned the love of their parent network?

Fans of Castle, Cougar Town, Grey's Anatomy, The Middle, Modern Family and Private Practice will be pleased to know that their programs are set to return in the next TV year. The early announcement comes with the high ratings enjoyed by the renewed programs.

Grey's Anatomy and Modern Family, in particular, are not terribly surprising shows to be renewed. Although in its seventh season, Grey's Anatomy is still the number one scripted show on television for viewers in the 18-49 demographic. Modern Family is doing almost as well, ranking as the top television comedy in the same demographic. The small (but likely to grow) collection of Emmys for Modern Family doesn't hurt either.

While Castle can hardly boast the same numbers as these top shows, the crime-solving comedy-drama has shown impressive ratings improvement in its third season. Originally seeming like a post writer's-strike filler show, Castle has kept large audiences from its Monday-night lead-ins.

The Middle and Cougar Town have also increased their ratings this year, making ABC's Wednesday block of comedy (which also includes Modern Family) very successful overall. Private Practice, on the other hand, has lost a small percentage of its audience. Still, the Grey's Anatomy spin-off remains one of the most popular shows on the network.

ABC Family has also announced some early pick-ups. In an announcement coinciding with the ABC pick-ups, the basic cable network has renewed The Secret Life of the American Teenager and Pretty Little Liars for their next seasons.

Although the ABC announcements were early, the ABC Family pick-ups are even more of an early surprise. Having just begun the second half of its first season, Pretty Little Liars would return for a second season during the summer of 2011. The Secret Life of the American Teenager is on hiatus at the moment and scheduled to return only in March. The show's fourth season would start in summer 2011.

ABC and ABC Family have not made announcements concerning all of their programming. The most notable omission is Desperate Housewives. Despite being ABC's second-highest-rated drama, the show is undergoing cast and production negotiations.

What do you think of ABC's announcement? Which shows are you most excited to watch again? Do any of the pick-ups surprise you? Leave us a comment!